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Duke  University  Libraries 

(Letter  of  Seer 
Conf  Pam  #468 

Dclc10fl2b3H  + 


LETTER  OF  SECRETARY  OF  WAR, 


War  Department,  C.  8  A..  ) 

Richmond,  Dec.  16,  1864,    \ 

To  the  President : 

SlB  :— 1  linve  received  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, adopted  on  the  19th  ult.,  calling  for  information  as  to  any 
contracts  made  by  the  War  Department,  in  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Department,  for  supplies  of  any  sort  to  be  paid  for  in  cotton 

In  response,  I  have  fie  honor  to  report,  that  no  contracts  of  the 
character  indicated  have  been  made  by  me  direct' y,  or  by  any  of 
the  Heads  of  Bureaus  of  this  Department,  (with  a  single  ex- 
ception to  be  hereafter  stated.)  with  individuals  or  companies  in 
the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  for  the  famishing  supplies  of 
any  sort  to  the  Depaitment,  to  be  paid  for  in  cotton.  Tho' excep- 
tion referred  to  is  a  contract  made  by  the  Ordnance  Bureau  with 
Marmaduke  &  Thornton,  for  ten  thousand  Enfield  rifles,  to  be  de- 
livered at  San  Antonia,  Texas,  at  thirty  dollar^  each,  and  to  be 
paid  for  in  cotton  there  at  twelve  cents  per  pound.  The  contract 
is  dated  October  25,  1863.  and  deliveries  were  to  le    under 

it  in  instalments  on  the  20th   April,   20th   June,  2  .  i-r,  and 

20th  October,  1864.  Xo  deliveries  have  been  made,  of  which  the 
Ordnance  Bureau  is  advised. 

If  any  contracts  of  the  kind  mentioned  in  the  resolution  have 
been  made  with  the  sanction  of  the  General  Commanding  the 
Trai  nppi  Department,    I   have  not  been   advised  of  their 

terme  he  power  to    make  contracts,    so  far  as  might 

be  Lecessary  for  the  supply  of  the  army  in  the  Trans- Mississippi  De- 
partment, was  reposed  in  the  General  Commanding  that  Depart- 
ment. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War. 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Richmond,  December  19,  li 

To  the  House  of  Repeesmtatives  : 

In  response  to  your  lesolution  of  the  19th  ulr..  1  herewith  trans- 
mit for  your  information  a  communication  from  the  .Secretary  of 
War,  relative  to  contracts  for  supplies  to  be  paid  for  in  cotton  in 
the  TraDS-Missigsippi  Department. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


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